Three Smart & Biggar lawyers named among the best and the brightest by MIP IP Stars - Rising Stars
Smart & Biggar, Canada’s leading firm in intellectual property law, is pleased to share senior associates, Laura Easton of Calgary, Jamie-Lynn Kraft of Ottawa and Vancouver counsel, Kwan T. Loh have been recognized as 2020’s “Rising Stars” by the Managing Intellectual Property (MIP) IP Stars - Rising Stars.
Laura, Jamie-Lynn and Kwan’s inclusion as Rising Stars identifies them as among best-performing associates, contributing to the success of their firm and clients in 2020.
A skilled intellectual property litigator, Laura has a talent for finding practical solutions to complex problems. Laura’s intellectual property litigation practice is focused primarily on patent, trademark and copyright litigation, together with litigation surrounding misappropriation of confidential information or trade secrets. Laura also advises clients with respect to the protection of their intellectual property in the employment context. Laura has appeared before the Federal Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal, all levels of the Alberta courts, the British Columbia Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of Canada. She has also appeared before the Alberta Surface Rights Board, and has represented clients in private arbitration. Laura is highly knowledgeable in all aspects of litigation, including drafting court materials, preparing witnesses for examination and cross-examination, and representing clients before the courts. Before joining Smart & Biggar, Laura had a broad civil litigation practice with an emphasis on commercial litigation, oil and gas, and employment law. Her diverse litigation experience helps her assess her clients’ IP concerns within the context of the industry, the market and the larger business picture.
Jamie-Lynn’s trademark counselling extends beyond protecting brand owners’ valuable IP assets. With a passion for helping businesses grow, Jamie-Lynn advises her clients on strategies to harness the full potential of their brands. She counsels her clients throughout the trademark lifecycle, including clearance, prosecution, opposition and enforcement. Jamie-Lynn regularly performs trademark clearance searches and provides availability opinions, prepares and files trademark applications, and prosecutes trademark applications before the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. She successfully represents clients in proceedings before the Canadian Trademark Opposition Board. Jamie-Lynn is a frequent speaker on topics relevant to brand owners and trademark practitioners. She works with clients in a wide variety of fields, from small- and medium-sized enterprises to multinational corporations, covering all industry areas including fashion, cosmetics, food and beverage, information technology and manufacturing.
Throughout his career, Kwan has worked to protect and enforce some of the world’s most valuable brands. Known for his attention to detail, thoughtfulness, and collaborative approach, Kwan provides practical trademark advice based not only upon the law, but also on broader strategic business considerations that are unique to every client’s case. As a solicitor, Kwan focuses on trademark clearance, filing and prosecuting trademark applications with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, and trademark portfolio strategy and management in Canada and around the world. Kwan also advises on IP-related contracts including licenses, assignments and other commercial agreements. Kwan’s clients span a wide variety of fields, including high-tech companies, internet companies, industrial manufacturers, online retailers, food and beverage companies, financial institutions, and hospitality companies, and from a wide variety of backgrounds, ranging from local start-up companies to multinational conglomerates.
The research for IP STARS covers contentious and non-contentious IP work. It is carried out over a six-month period by an experienced team of research analysts and journalists.
Smart & Biggar is widely recognized as Canada’s leading firm for intellectual property law, with offices in Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary. We are leaders in intellectual property and technology law and have been serving clients for over a century.